Drive-chain link



(No Model.)

0. A. TAPLIN.

DRIVE CHAIN LINK. No. 500,223. Patented June 27, 1893.

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UNITED .ST'Arns PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE A. TAPLIN, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

DRIVE-CHAIN LINK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,223, dated June 27,1893.

Application filed May 31,1892. Serial No. 435,095. (No modeLl To allwhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLARENCE A. TAPLIN, of New Britain,in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Drive-Chain Links, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description,whereby any one skilled in the art can makeand use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a link for a drive chain thatmay be made of sheet metal and will be strong and durable, and to thisend my inventionconsists of the details of the several parts making upthe link as a whole and in their combination as more particularlyhereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:Figure 1 is a detail plan view of the blankfrom which the link is formed. Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of thecompleted link. Fig. 3 is a detail plan View showing two links connectedtogether and with the knuckle and false pintle out in lengthwisesection. Fig. 4 is a detail edge view of the false pintle. Fig. 5 is adetail view in cross section through the knuckle. Fig. 6 is a detailplan view of a modified form of link. Fig. 7 is a detail edge view insection showing the method of connecting two of the latter form oflinks.

In the accompanying drawings the letter a denotes a blank that is madeof suitable sheet metal, low grade steel preferred, and this blank iscut or stamped to shape. The central portion is cut away leaving at oneend a somewhat narrow bar 17, side parts 0 and enough metal at one endto roll up to form the knuckle 01. On the inner edges of the side partsthere are also left wings c which are intended to be folded down uponthe side parts for the purpose of strengthening the parts. The outeredges of the blank at the knuckle end are also left with slightextensions in order to afford sufficient metal in swaging up ribs e.

In order to enable the link to be made from comparatively thin metal andyet have sufficient strength in the knuckle end to prevent straighteningout or distortion under the pull to which the chain link is subjected inuse, it is reinforced by swaging up the rib e on the ends of the knucklecl, these ribs extending to a degree into the side parts of the link,the

blank having been left as stated of a suitable width to provide anexcess of metal to form the ribs of sufficient size to effect thepurpose in hand.

It is not essential in the practice of my invention that the ribs shallbe formed on the knuckle end of the blank and in fact the inventioncontemplates the construction of a drive chain link without such ribs,although such a construction is not shown in the drawings, and in such acase the blank may be rolled into cylindrical shape and then compressedlengthwise of the knuckle and widthwise of the blank a mandrel beingused within the knuckle so as to keep the socket of proper size. Thisswaging up of the metal of itself adds great strength to the knuckle.

In order to thicken up and compress the knuckle end and also to form therib the blank is held in suitable tools or dies and pressure exertededgewise of the blank by said die parts and the result of the operationis that the rib is suitably formed and at the same time the wholeknuckle end is contracted lengthwise of the knuckle d and widthwise ofthe blank thus forming an extremely strong and durable knuckle.

The bar b is not of proper shape in cross section to afiord suitableconnecting means with another link and it is built up to the requiredshape by means of a reinforce f that consists of acylindrical piece ofmetalhaving a slot f along one side that adapts it to slip onto the barI) and to be compressed tightly upon it. As an aid in preventing thereinforce from removal the slot f is extended around the ends at f sothat the side bars 0 fit into these extensions as illustratedin Figs. 2and 4 of the drawings, and the reinforce is thus more securely heldagainst any accidental removal. One end of the reinforce is opened outso as to enable it to be slipped into place beyond the edge 0 of thefold on the side part and these ends are then closed down upon the barand securely held in place by means of the shoulders 0 The knuckle d isbent to proper shape and size to receive the pintle in an open socketand any two links are engaged in the ordinary manner by slipping thepintle into the socket in the knuckle while the side parts of both linksextend in substantially the same ICO direction, and then extending thelinks by turning the pintle within the socket within the knuckle untilthe two lie in substantially the same plane, the said bars lying againstthe edge of the knuckle.

I, claim as my invention 1. A drive chain link made of thin metal andcomprising a body part having a central opening with a knuckle at oneend of the body part having a swaged rib at each end of the knuckle, thefolded reinforce at the end of the side parts of the frame of. the link,and

the cylindrical pintle formed by a slotted cyl- I a blank for a drivechain link cut from sheet metal and composed of side parts with a narrowbar at one end and with a bar at the 0pposite end wider than the bodypart of the link, all substantially as described.

4. As an improved article of manufacture a blank for a drive chain linkout from sheet metal composed of side parts having inward extendingwings, a narrow bar formed at one end of the blank and a bar at theopposite end of the blank wider than the body part of the link,allsubstantially as described.

5. A drive chain link made of thin metal comprising a body part having acentral opening with a knuckle at one end of the body part, the foldedreinforce at the end of the side parts of the frame of the link, thecylindrical pintle formed by a slotted cylindrical reinforce secured tothe cross bar of the frame at the opposite end from the knuckle, allsubstantially as described.

CLARENCE A. TAPLIN.

Witnesses:

CHAS. L. BURDETT, A. B. JENKINS.

